a holy night

During dinner last night I was sitting with one of my girls as she was sharing her frustration of wanting to get over stuff but didnt know how. And I had been hearing that a lot yesterday as I was talking with some girls one-on-one. They wanted to release things but didnt know how. So, the Lord gave me an idea. And at first it freaked me out cause it sounded crazy and I didnt know what would happen, but all I could hear was "its worth taking the risk for freedom." So I told KK and we were going to run with it. And as I was telling her my spirit started getting hot and tingly with excitement in anticipation for the Lord to show up and Kingdom to come alive.
 
So when the squad came together after their team times, each person armed with a piece of paper and a pen, I invited them to take a risk with me. I didn’t know what would happen but I believed it was time for steps into freedom to be taken. It was time to step out of the “I don’t knows” and into trusting God and His Kingdom business. This whole week people had been extremely vulnerable with the squad, sharing wounds from their past- things they had done and things that had been done to them- and while the squad came alongside each other in such grace, love, and truth. I felt the Lord was telling me it was time for them to see the Spirit of power they each possessed as adopted sons and daughters of the King of kings. It was time to own their voices. So I had them fold their paper in half. On one side they wrote what they needed to release- an experience, a person, a lie that had been spoken over them- and on the other side a truth that spoke directly into that burden. People started getting excited. Then I told them that we were going to each read them out loud in front of the whole group. Some jaws dropped. You could just tell some people were freaking out. But it was time to step out of fear, owning the Spirit of courage and strength our Father has given us. I shared that doing this doesn’t necessarily mean that when you wake up tomorrow morning everything will be perfect, but that we each could be one step deeper into the Kingdom and the freedom in which we were created to live. For many this would be their first steps in taking on the fight for themselves as they were being awakened to the holy power that dwells within them. But even the smallest steps are worth taking. After they shared they would rip the paper in half, putting what they released into a bowl that would be burned after all of us had gone.
 
Three and a half hours later we were all huddling outside in the cold (quiet hours for the room we were meeting in began at 10 so we had to move), ready to burn the burdens. Deep pains had been shared. Tears shed. Truth powerfully declared over those broken, hurting places. These beloved children of God were rising up, so boldly and courageously stepping onto the battlefield, refusing to live in bondage any longer. But before we lit the match, I felt the Lord wanted to lead them through a visualization of what they just did. So I had them close their eyes. What they needed to release were like burdens on their back so heavy they were weighing them down. Their bodies were broken, weak, and bruised from carrying it for so long. And then Jesus appears before them, wearing a robe of righteousness of such majesty and splendor it was too much to behold. As they had verbally released their burden, He comes and takes it off their backs and immediately strength starts to rise up within them. He then takes off His robe and places it on them. Its softness and comfort is unlike anything they had ever worn before. And it fits them perfectly. He then gives them a sword of truth to fight off the lies that will try to come back to overtake them. And as they lift their eyes they see the banner of freedom waving above them. And as they look at their feet they see the firm foundation of grace upon which they stand. Jesus then reaches out His nail-pierced hands, His blood dripping onto those broken, hurting places, and healing begins. They are His. Marked by His righteousness, truth, freedom, and grace. His love starts rising up within them, awaken their hearts to beat in the new life He died to give them.